Entry of foreigners on the territory of the Slovak Republic

The Slovak Republic is a part of the Schengen Area within which free movement of persons, goods, services and capital applies. If a foreigner enters the territory of the Slovak Republic from a third country, they are subjected to the border and customs control.

If a foreigner enters the territory of the Slovak Republic through another Schengen State and for entry into Slovakia does not need a visa, or they have been granted a Schengen visa, or they have a temporary or permanent residence permit, a foreigner may cross the internal borders of EU Member States without having to undergo border and customs control and they can also enter Slovakia without having to handle a transit visa.

Foreigners who enter the territory of the Slovak Republic may reside in Slovakia:

• with a granted valid visa or under a visa waiver, or with a valid residence permit issued by another Member State of the EU,
• with a granted temporary residence,
• with a granted permanent residence,
• with a granted tolerated residence.

Visa

The Slovak Republic grants Schengen or a national visa to foreigners.

Schengen visa

Schengen visa is a form of permission granted by the Member State for transit through the territory of the Member States, or planned stay in their territory for a period not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period. A foreigner has to submit an application in order to obtain it. Schengen visa entitles the foreigner to enter the entire territory of the Schengen area. In some case it is possible that together with your visa application you will need to submit an invitation application form verified by the Alien Police Department competent according to the residence of the inviting person.

National visa

National visa may be granted to a third country national, where this is necessary in relation to the residence permit in the Slovak Republic or to the implementation of the commitments of the Slovak Republic resulting from an international agreement or if it is in the interest of the Slovak Republic. The family member of the person with granted asylum or a third country national who has been granted a subsidiary protection referred to in the specific regulation, shall be granted a visa, if it is not detrimental to the national security or to the public order. A foreigner has to submit an application in order to obtain it.

The national visa is granted:

• to stay longer than three months, for a maximum period of one year,
• when it comes to granting a visa in connection with granting the residence permit in the Slovak Republic (for 90 days),
• it shall be granted for the necessary time in case of granting the visa to the family member of a third country national with granted asylum or a third country national who has been granted subsidiary protection.

Free legal services in this field are provided by the Migration Information Centre and the relevant authority responsible in this area is the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.

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